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Short
Guide to the Rules of the Game
Mini
Tag, Mini Contact, Midi and Junior Rugby
Young players are
introduced to rugby in three clearly defined stages, (referred to as
Mini-Midi Rugby) so that by U13 players have acquired the skills and
knowledge required to participate in the full 15-a-side game. Each
stage has its own rules distinguishing it from the adult game and
should not be considered as being merely a shortened version of
senior rugby.
This progression has
been structured to accommodate the changing developmental abilities
of children as they mature with the emphasis being on the
improvement of individual skills through purposeful and enjoyable
activity. Provision is made for testing these skills in match
situations during a limited number of competitive fixtures and
festivals/tournaments each season.
The three stages, as
defined in the RFU Rugby Continuum, are:
Stage 1: Mini Tag
Rugby - played by Under 7 and Under 8 age grades
Stage 2: Mini Rugby - played by Under 9 and Under 10 age
grades
Stage 3: Midi Rugby - played by Under 11 and Under 12 age
grades
The ages are defined
by the age at midnight of the 31st August and players stay with
their age group throughout their time in Mini and Youth Rugby. As
each age group moves up the game develops with more aspects being
introduced each year. The format is as follows:
Under
7 & Under 8 (mini tag rugby)
Click here for
a guide to tag rugby
-
Tag-tackling: with removable velcro tags on
a waist belt,
-
Ball to be passed backwards,
-
Players to stay behind the ball during play
(their side of the ball),
-
Attempt to score a try,
-
Play (re)starts with a pass
-
Seven players per side.
-
No Contact.
-
No Lineout.
-
No Scrummage.
-
No Kicking.
Under
9 (mini rugby)
-
Any player on their feet with the ball can
be tackled (below the armpit),
-
Ball to be passed backwards,
-
Players to stay behind the ball during play
(their side of the ball),
-
Attempt to score a try,
-
Play (re)starts with a pass,
-
Knock-on or unplayable ball results in an
uncontested scrum,
-
Two player uncontested lineout (No
lifting).
-
Nine players per side (three forwards and
six backs). Positions are interchangeable throughout the game.
-
No Kicking.
Under 10
(mini rugby)
-
Any player on their feet with the ball can
be tackled (below the armpit),
-
Ball to be passed backwards,
-
Players to stay behind the ball during play
(their side of the ball),
-
Attempt to score a try,
-
Play (re)starts with a pass
-
Knock-on or unplayable ball results in a
contested scrummage,
-
Two player contested line-out (No lifting),
-
Nine players per side (three forwards and
six backs). Positions are interchangeable throughout the game.
-
No Kicking.
Under 11
(midi rugby)
-
Any player on their feet with the ball can
be tackled (below the armpit),
-
Ball to be passed backwards,
-
Players to stay behind the ball during play
(their side of the ball),
-
Attempt to score a try,
-
Play (re)starts with a drop kick
-
Knock-on or unplayable ball results in a
contested scrummage (second row introduced),
-
Four player contested line-out (No
lifting),
-
Twelve players per side (five forwards and
seven backs). Positions are interchangeable throughout the
game.
Under 12
(midi rugby)
-
Any player on their feet with the ball can
be tackled (below the armpit),
-
Ball to be passed backwards,
-
Players to stay behind the ball during play
(their side of the ball),
-
Attempt to score a try,
-
Play (re)starts with a drop kick
-
Knock-on or unplayable ball results in a
contested scrummage (second row introduced),
-
Four player contested line-out (No
lifting),
-
Thirteen players per side (six forwards and
seven backs). Positions are interchangeable throughout the
game.
No hand-off or fend-off allowed at any
age group in Mini Rugby.
Players then move up
to junior rugby – U13s to U19s (School year 8+) played to RFU Laws
with variations for each age group, distinguishing it from the adult
game.
Junior Rugby
Click here
for the Youth Structured Season 2007-8
Played as the 15
a-side game on a full size pitch but with Law variations.
The object of the
game is to score a try (5 points) and conversion (2 points).
The scrum is made up
of eight players from each team, 3-4-1.
Under
13/14
Ball - size 4
Playing time - 25
minutes each way.
The hand-off/fend-off
and fly hacking now permitted.
Under 15
As per under 13/14
Ball - size 5
Playing time - 30
minutes each way
Under
16, 17, 18
Ball - size 5
Playing time - 35
minutes each way.
Players may now
lift/support team mates in the line-out.
Girls
rugby
Currently differs
slightly, whereby they play mixed rugby (through the 3 stages as
above) up to Under 11.
Under 12 (school year
7) they can continue to play mixed rugby for one more year and/or
play in the RFUW Lower Age Band (classed as U14, ie. school years 7
- 9).
U15 girls then play
in the Upper Age Band (classed as U17, ie school year 10+). The game
is played to RFU U14/U17 Laws with RFUW variations.
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